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A Short History of the G.A.A.
On Saturday 1st November 1884, a small group of men met in Thurles, Co. Tipperary and there they founded the Gaelic Athletics Association.The seven founder members were Michael Cusack, Maurice Davin, John Wyse Power, John McKay, J.K. Bracken, Joeseph O'Ryan and Thomas St. George McCarthy. Maurice Davin was elected President of the new association, in a brief speech he called for a body to draft rules and to open athletics to the man in the street.The rules for Hurling and Gaelic Football were drawn up at the third meeting of the G.A.A. in January 1885 and two years later in 1887 the first All-Ireland Championships were held.Only 12 out of 32 counties entered, eight competed in the football and five in hurling.However, the finals were not played until the start of the next season in April 1888.
Croke Park
The G.A.A. first purchased the site that Croke Park is now situated in 1913 from Frank Dineen for £3,500, they immediately renamed Croke Park in honour of Archbishop Croke of Cashel who was their first patron.Hill 16,(also known as the Railway end was built from the rubble left in O'Connell Street after the 1916 Rising.The Hogan Stand,(named after Tipperary footballer Michael Hogan whos killed on Bloody Sunday) was built in 1924.In 1937 the Cusack Stand,(named after one of the GAA founder members Michael Cusack) was built.The Canal End terrace was constructed in 1949 and a few years later the Nally Stand,(named after Pat Nally) was built.
Bloody Sunday
On November 21st 1920 Dublin played Tipperary in Croke Park, the ball was thrown in at 2.45 and shortly afterwards the Black and Tans raided the ground and started spraying bullets inside the ground.The crowd ran away from the gunfire towards the Railway wall.Two of the players, Michael Hogan and John Egan, failed to make it off the pitch.A young man who tryed to whisper the last rites into Hogan's ear was also killed.Jeannie Boyle, who was to be married five days later, was also killed.The remaining casualties included 3 young boys, aged 14,11 and 10 who were all shot dead.This day became known as Bloody Sunday
Reconstruction
Under the reconstruction, the stands have been rebuilt as one massive structure, looming over the surrounding streets. For example the Cusack Stand, is 180 metres long, an 35 metres high, seats 25,000 people and contains 46 hospitality suites. There are four layers from which viewing games is possible: the main concourse; a premium level incorporating hospitality facilities; the hospitality suites level; and finally an upper concourse. This three-sided development has resulted in a capacity of 79,500.
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